Masoud Juma

Masoud Juma Choka (born 3 February 1996) is a Kenyan footballer who plays as a forward for Saudi club Al-Jabalain[1] and the Kenya national team.[2]

Masoud Juma
Personal information
Full name Masoud Juma Choka
Date of birth (1996-02-03) 3 February 1996
Place of birth Isiolo, Kenya
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Al-Jabalain
Number 23
Youth career
Isiolo Barracks Secondary
Isiolo Youth FC
Kambakia Christian Centre
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014 Shabana 5 (5)
2014–2016 Bandari 10 (8)
2016–2017 SoNy Sugar 28 (15)
2017–2018 Kariobangi Sharks 31 (24)
2018 Cape Town City 4 (1)
2018 Dibba Al-Fujairah 10 (4)
2019 Al-Nasr Benghazi 0 (0)
2019–2020 JS Kabylie 10 (0)
2020–2023 Difaâ Hassani El Jadidi 56 (16)
2023 → Al-Faisaly (loan) 13 (8)
2023– Al-Jabalain 0 (0)
International career‡
2015 Kenya U23
2017– Kenya 14 (5)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:32, 18 Apr 2022 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 8:55, 18 Apr 2022 (UTC)

Club career

Early years

Born and raised in Isiolo, Juma began playing football at Tumaini Primary School.[3] He then led his Isiolo Barracks Secondary School team to the Coca-Cola/AFCO Inter-military Schools Championship, where he was named tournament MVP with five goals.[4] During this time, he also featured for Isiolo Youth FC, in the fifth-tier Kenyan County Champions League.[3] He then joined FKF Division One club Kambakia Christian Centre FC for a short while before rejoining Isiolo Youth FC in February 2014.[3]

Professional career

He was soon discovered by Kenyan National Super League team Shabana during a national talent search held in Kasarani.[3] During the 2014 season, Juma scored five goals in three months, drawing comparisons to legendary Kenyan striker Dennis Oliech.[3][5] That summer, after being linked with several top clubs, Juma signed a two-year deal with Kenyan Premier League side Bandari.[6] After struggling in the second half of the year, Juma started the 2015 season with promise. However, in a fixture against SoNy Sugar in April, he suffered an ankle injury which kept him out for five months.[7] Coincidentally, this happened right after earning a call-up to the Kenya U23 squad.[8] He was back in action by September, and helped Bandari close out the season to finish in fourth place.[4] During the 2015 FKF President's Cup final in December, Juma scored eight minutes after replacing Farid Mohammed to seal Bandari's 4–2 win over Nakumatt.[9]

Despite his strong showing after returning from injury, Juma did not receive much playing time during the first half of the 2016 season, mainly due to the acquisitions of Dan Sserunkuma, Edwin Lavatsa and Meshack Karani in January.[10] He made it known through social media that he planned on finding another team during the nearing midseason transfer window.[11] Although technical director Edward Oduor tried denying the reports, Juma was soon linked to SoNy Sugar, and eventually signed with them in June.[12] He scored his maiden goal with his new club in his sixth match of the season, against Western Stima.[13] His stay at SoNy Sugar was highlighted by his "penchant for spectacular strikes," which helped him improve his stock in the eyes of many teams around the league.[3] He also attracted the attention of Kenyan national team head coach Stanley Okumbi, who called him up to the squad in June.

He was picked up by newly promoted Premier League side Kariobangi Sharks in January 2017.[14] He scored five goals in the 2017 President's Cup campaign, including two in the semi-finals against SoNy Sugar to secure the Sharks their first-ever appearance in the finals, where they eventually lost to A.F.C. Leopards.[15] He also earned the Premier League Golden Boot by netting a league-best 18 goals that season.[16][17] Sharks finished in third place.

In June 2017, Juma trained with Swedish clubs AIK and Jönköpings Södra,[18][19] followed by South African side Bidvest Wits in July,[20][21] but he was signed by Cape Town City on 2 January 2018.[19]

On 22 September, Juma signed for Dibba Club in UAE.[22]

On 26 February 2019, Juma joined Libyan champions Al-Nasr Benghazi.[23]

On 29 January 2023, Juma joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Faisaly on loan from Difaâ Hassani El Jadidi.[24]

On 8 July 2023, Juma joined Saudi Arabian club Al-Jabalain.[25]

International career

While at Bandari, Juma earned a call-up to the Kenya national under-23 team, in preparation for the upcoming 2015 African Games qualifying campaign. However, an injury sustained during a Premier League fixture prevented him from joining the national team.[3]

Juma made his senior international debut for Kenya in June 2017, when he was named to the starting XI of a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Sierra Leone.[26][27] He was the subject of severe criticism from the Kenyan fans following his performance, mainly stemming from a missed shot in the early minutes of what eventually ended as a 2–1 loss.[28] Critics felt that the starting role should have been given to a more established striker, namely Stephen Waruru (the Premier League's top scorer at the time).[26][29][30]

He earned his second cap during a friendly against Mauritania two months later, where he scored with a 58th-minute header.[31][32] This match, however, was not considered a full international match, since Kenya fielded a 'B' team composed only of locally based players.[33]

Career statistics

International
As of 18 April 2022
Kenya
YearAppsGoals
201753
201800
201920
202031
202141
Total145

International goals
As of 18 April 2022 (scores and results list Kenya's goal tally first)[2]
GoalDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.31 August 2017Stade Adrar, Agadir, Morocco Mauritania1–01–1Friendly
2.3 December 2017Bukhungu Stadium, Kakamega, Kenya Rwanda1–02–02017 CECAFA Cup
3.17 December 2017Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos, Kenya Zanzibar2–12–2 (3–2 p)2017 CECAFA Cup
4.11 November 2020Moi International Sports Centre, Nairobi, Kenya Comoros1–11–12021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification Group G
5.29 March 2021Stade de Kégué, Lomé, Togo Togo0–21–22021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification Group G

Honours

Bandari

Kenya

Individual

Personal life

Juma is a supporter of Arsenal.[34]

References
  1. "JSK : Un international kenyan arrive".
  2. National-Football-Teams profile
  3. "From Isiolo To SPL Golden Boot: The Rise Of Masoud Juma". Sportpesa News. 10 November 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  4. Oluoch, Luke (13 August 2014). "Profile: Harambee Stars call up – Masud Juma". futaa.com. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  5. Opiyo, Vincent (17 June 2014). "Selebwa in praise of Masoud Juma". futaa.com. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  6. Oluoch, Luke (30 June 2014). "Bandari lands Shabana talisman". futaa.com. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  7. Stephen, Vincent (12 August 2015). "Juma back after five months out with injury". soka.co.ke. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  8. Oluoch, Luke (22 September 2017). "Bandari forward elated with resuming fitness after lenghty [sic] layoff". futaa.com. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  9. Gacharira, Samuel (29 December 2015). "Twahir full of praise for Bandari youngster". futaa.co.tz. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  10. Gacharira, Samuel (1 June 2016). "Bandari hang on to promising forward". soka.co.ke. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  11. Oguda, Zachary (27 May 2016). "Bandari striker quits". soka.co.ke. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  12. Magak, Chrisphine (2 June 2016). "KPL June transfer window officially swings open". Goal. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  13. Gacharira, Samuel (8 August 2016). "Masoud relieved after opening Sony Sugar account". soka.co.ke. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  14. Teya, Kevin (22 January 2017). "SoNy Sugar striker set to join Kariobangi Sharks". futaa.com. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  15. "Juma Brace Steers Sharks Into Final". Sportpesa News. 24 September 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  16. Mutai, Matthews (18 November 2017). "Swansong for Kagere as Juma carts the Golden Boot". Citizen TV. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  17. Joshua, Elvince (18 November 2017). "Kariobangi Sharks Striker Tops the Chart". Goal.com. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  18. Mabuka, Dennis (15 June 2017). "Kariobangi Sharks Striker Off for Trials in Sweden". Goal.com. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  19. Musungu, Nahashon (2 August 2017). "Masoud Juma Optimistic Despite Failed Trials in South Africa". Daily Nation. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  20. Fakude, Ernest (27 July 2017). "Bidvest Wits hand Kenyan striker Masoud Juma a trial". Kickoff. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  21. Musungu, Nahashon (28 July 2017). "Masoud Juma on Trials with South Africa's Bidvest Wits". Daily Nation. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  22. Masud Juma makes UAE switch, touchsports.co.ke, 22 September 2018
  23. Harambee Stars striker Masoud Juma joins Libyan champions Al Nasr, goal.com, 25 February 2019
  24. "إدارة النادي تنهي اجراءات انتقال اللاعب الكيني " جمعة مسعود "".
  25. "رسمياً المهاجم الكيني جمعة مسعود جبلاوياً".
  26. Musungu, Nahashon (1 July 2017). "Masoud Juma Back Home After Failed Trials In Sweden". Daily Nation. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  27. "Masoud Juma, Olunga to lead Harambee Stars onslaught against Sierra Leone". Football Kenya Federation. 10 June 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  28. Kwalimwa, David (1 September 2017). "Finally, Masoud Juma Comes Good for Harambee Stars". Daily Nation. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  29. Musungu, Nahashon (3 July 2017). "I Don't Need You, Masoud Juma Tells 'Haters'". Daily Nation. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  30. Babu, Tyson (13 June 2017). "Okumbi Justifies His Decision To Start Masoud Juma". The Star. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  31. Oguda, Zachary (31 August 2017). "Masoud on the mark as Mauritania holds Harambee Stars". soka.co.ke. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  32. "Masud on target as Mauritania holds Stars in friendly". Football Kenya Federation. 31 August 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  33. "Harambee Stars Hold Mauritania in Away Friendly". Goal.com. 31 August 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  34. "Exclusive: Masoud Juma on goals,future and lessons from Olunga". sportika.co.ke. 15 November 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
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